Chapter 10: The Message That Wasn't Mine
For five seconds, nobody moved.
Vanessa's words hung in the air.
"It's me.""
I stared at her.
The woman I had trusted.
The woman who had raised my daughter.
The woman who had been standing beside me through every birthday, every school event, every nightmare.
"You sent that photo?""
Vanessa shook her head immediately.
"No.""
I looked at the phone in my hand.
"Then why did you say it's you?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Because someone is using my identity.""
David stepped forward.
"Who?""
Vanessa looked at him.
"I don't know.""
That answer should have made me feel better.
It didn't.
Because I was exhausted from hearing people say they didn't know.
Everyone knew something.
Everyone had hidden something.
And Lily was the one paying the price.
I held up the phone.
"Explain.""
Vanessa took a shaky breath.
"Three years ago, someone started sending me messages.""
"What kind of messages?""
"Threats.""
David's expression changed.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Vanessa looked away.
"Because I thought I could handle it.""
I almost laughed.
"Handle it?""
My voice rose.
"You gave my daughter pills.""
She flinched.
"I know.""
"No, you don't.""
I pointed at the phone.
"You don't get to say you were protecting her after everything that happened.""
Vanessa lowered her head.
"I know.""
That was the first time she didn't fight back.
No excuses.
No anger.
Just guilt.
I looked at David.
"What threats?""
He looked at Vanessa.
She nodded.
"Show him.""
She reached into her bag and pulled out an old phone.
Not her current one.
An old, damaged phone with a cracked screen.
"I kept everything.""
She unlocked it.
The first message was from an unknown number.
*You married him because I allowed it.*
The second:
*You will raise the girl until I need her.*
The third:
*Do not tell Daniel what happened to Emily.*
My stomach tightened.
"Who sent these?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"I never found out.""
David took the phone.
He looked through the messages carefully.
Then his face changed.
"What?""
He zoomed in on one message.
"This.""
I looked closer.
A strange symbol appeared at the bottom of the text.
A small circle with a line through it.
David went pale.
"Where have you seen that before?""
I looked at him.
He didn't answer.
Vanessa did.
"Emily's journal.""
My heart stopped.
"You found her journal?""
David nodded slowly.
"Years ago.""
"Then why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I couldn't.""
I stepped closer.
"Why?""
David looked at Vanessa.
"Because Emily wrote that if anything happened to her, the person who found the journal would become a target.""
A cold feeling moved through me.
"So you both knew.""
David didn't deny it.
"Yes.""
I closed my eyes.
The anger was overwhelming.
Everyone had been protecting secrets.
Everyone except me.
The man who was supposed to protect Lily.
A sound came from upstairs.
A floorboard.
We all froze.
"Lily?""
I ran toward the stairs.
The bedroom door was open.
Rachel was standing inside.
Her face was terrified.
"Daniel...""
I rushed in.
"What happened?""
She pointed at the window.
"It's open.""
My heart dropped.
I looked around.
Lily was still there.
Sleeping.
Safe.
I let out a breath.
Then I noticed something on her pillow.
A small envelope.
I picked it up.
My hands were shaking.
No name.
No address.
Just one word written on the front.
*Daniel.*
I opened it.
Inside was a single piece of paper.
Five words.
*She remembers everything now.*
I turned toward Lily.
Slowly, she opened her eyes.
"Daddy?""
I moved beside her.
"Sweetheart.""
She looked at the letter.
Then at me.
And whispered:
"I know who hurt Mommy Emily.""
Nobody spoke.
"Lily," I said softly.
"Who?""
Her eyes filled with fear.
"The person who came to our house after Mommy died.""
My blood ran cold.
"Who came?""
May you like
She grabbed my hand.
"Mommy Vanessa.""
